The main routes in England

Most help in England targets lower-income households. However, other routes, such as export payments and the VAT cut, apply to nearly everyone who installs panels. Here is how the pieces fit together.

We checked each route below against official pages. Each one has its own page, so you can read more detail there.

Grants for low-income households

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is the route to check first. GOV.UK takes applications as of October 2026, with a delivery window that runs to 31 March 2028. However, it is local, so help depends on whether your council has funding available.

You can qualify in three ways. Your home can sit in a listed postcode area, someone can get a qualifying benefit, or your household income can be £36,000 a year or less. The home must be privately owned or privately rented, and its EPC rating must be D, E, F or G. The GOV.UK page explains that your council will usually contact you within 10 working days of an online application.

There is no fixed amount per home. If you are eligible, your council arranges and pays for agreed work, and owner-occupiers do not need to contribute. Solar panels are one of several improvements the council might suggest. However, there is no promise that any household will get panels.

ECO4 and other supplier help

ECO4 is not a grant. Energy suppliers decide which measures they fund and which installers they use. As a result, two households with the same benefits can get very different offers.

Ofgem says ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026. It does not say whether suppliers are taking new households before then, so ask your supplier. ECO4 can fund solar panels only in limited cases that depend on the heating system. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed to new work on 31 March 2026.

Our guide to ECO4 and solar panels in 2026 explains what to ask a supplier. Because of the rules, you cannot blend ECO funding with other government grants.

Help for everyone who installs

Two routes do not depend on income. First, the Smart Export Guarantee requires large suppliers to offer a payment for the surplus power you export. Each supplier sets its own rate, so compare tariffs before you sign. Our guide to choosing a Smart Export Guarantee tariff shows what to compare.

Second, installing solar panels carries 0% VAT as of October 2026. This applies until 31 March 2027, and then the rate becomes 5%. Additionally, you need an MCS certified installer to qualify for export payments.

Council schemes and loans

Some councils run group-buying rounds, where residents register and installers bid. These are price deals, not government grants, and you do not have to accept. Rounds are local and short, so check your own council. Read more in our guide to council solar schemes and group buying.

The Warm Homes Plan announced low-cost loans for solar and batteries, aimed at homeowners across Great Britain. As of October 2026 we found no launch date or eligibility details, so check GOV.UK before you plan around them. Meanwhile, solar loans and finance explains how to check a lender and your cancellation rights.

Older people and tenants

Pension Credit is one of the qualifying benefits for the Warm Homes: Local Grant. If you are older, our guide to solar panel grants for pensioners walks through the options. However, we found no pensioner-only solar grant on official pages.

Tenants need their landlord’s agreement because the home must be privately owned or let. A private landlord may get one home fully funded, but later homes need a 50% contribution.

How England differs from the other nations

Funding is devolved, so a route in one nation may not exist in another. The Warm Homes: Local Grant applies only in England. By comparison, solar funding routes in Scotland run through Home Energy Scotland, and solar funding routes in Wales run through Nest.

Where to start

Begin with the GOV.UK eligibility checker, which takes a few minutes. Then check your EPC, ask your council about group buying, and compare export tariffs. That way you see every route before you spend money. Our funding checker can point you to the right page. If you want installer prices as a separate, optional step, you can request quotes.

FAQ / QUICK ANSWERS

Common questions

Can I get free solar panels in England?
Some low-income households may get help through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, but your council decides and funding is limited. Be wary of anyone who promises free panels to everyone. Check the GOV.UK page before you agree to anything.
Is ECO4 still open in England?
ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026, and energy suppliers choose what they fund. Ofgem does not say it is closed to new households before then. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026.
Do I pay VAT on solar panels in England?
As of October 2026, installing solar panels in a home carries 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the rate reverts to 5%. Check GOV.UK before you rely on the date.
Where should I start looking for solar help in England?
Start with the GOV.UK eligibility checker for the Warm Homes: Local Grant. If you do not qualify, look at your council for group-buying rounds and compare Smart Export Guarantee tariffs.